Teachers can conduct their own lessons while using the Naturalist Center’s collections and equipment. Museum staff provides room supervision. We recommend that teachers visit the Center before bringing their class. This program is ideal for “Envirothon” teams, scout troops, homeschool groups and science clubs.

The Naturalist Center provides visitors access to an extensive collection of specimens for individual or class research or for general interest. Collections include birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, insects, plants, fossils, rocks, minerals and more. Reference books, computers, CD-ROMs, microscopes and other lab equipment are available. Staff can provide assistance with self-directed exploration in the Naturalist Center.

Scheduling information: You must register for programs at least six weeks in advance of your group’s visit. To schedule this program, contact Cindy Lincoln, Coordinator of the Naturalist Center, at 919.707.9269, or submit an online Scheduling Request Form.

The ELC is available for use upon appointment. It can be used as a meeting center and/or a resource center for anyone in the field of education. The resources can be used by educators and preservice teachers or for student research but the holdings are only circulating for DENR employees at this time.

Facilities Description: The room has 4 computers connected to the internet and conference table has ports for power and internet if laptops are preferred. LCD projectors can be provided upon request. The ELC can hold groups of up to 25.

To schedule a visit or to hold a meeting in the ELC contact Ian Brown at ian.brown@ncdenr.gov or 919-707-8115.

About Us

We are a homeschooling family in the Raleigh, NC area. Our little ones are pre-K and 1st grade, so we are still pretty new at this homeschooling thing, but loving it! We spend most of our days out and about. Experiencing life and the many fun educational things that seem to always be going on around here.